If you have hepatitis B virus infection (HBV; an ongoing liver infection) and you take tenofovir, your condition may suddenly worsen when you stop taking this medication. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had HBV. Your doctor will examine you and order lab tests regularly for several months after you stop taking this medication to see if your HBV has worsened.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests before and during your treatment to check your body’s response to tenofovir.

Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking tenofovir.

Tenofovir is used along with other medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in adults and children 2 years of age and older. Tenofovir is also used to treat chronic (long term) HBV in adults and children 2 years of age and older weighing 22 pounds (10 kilograms) or more. Tenofovir is in a class of medications called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). It works by decreasing the amount of HIV and HBV in the blood. Although tenofovir will not cure HIV, it may decrease your chance of developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV-related illnesses such as serious infections or cancer. Taking these medications along with practicing safer sex and making other lifestyle changes may decrease the risk of transmitting the HIV virus to other people. Tenofovir will not cure hepatitis B and may not prevent complications of chronic hepatitis B such as cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. Tenofovir may not prevent the spread of hepatitis B to other people.

Tenofovir comes as a tablet and as an oral powder to take by mouth. The tablet is usually taken with or without food once daily. The powder is usually taken with food once daily. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take tenofovir exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Tenofovir oral powder must be added to 2 to 4 ounces of soft food such as applesauce, baby food, or yogurt. Stir the mixture with a spoon until well mixed. Consume the mixture right away to avoid a bitter taste. Do not mix tenofovir oral powder with liquid.

Continue to take tenofovir even if you feel well. Do not stop taking tenofovir without talking to your doctor. If you stop taking tenofovir even for a short time, or skip doses, the virus may become resistant to medications and may be harder to treat.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking tenofovir,

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to tenofovir, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in tenofovir tablets or oral powder. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: antiviral medications such as acyclovir (Zovirax), adefovir (Hepsera), cidofovir (Vistide), ganciclovir (Cytovene, Vitasert), ledipasvir and sofosbuvir (Harvoni), valacyclovir (Valtrex), valganciclovir (Valcyte), and velpatasvir and sofosbuvir (Epclusa); aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); gentamicin; other medications for HIV or AIDS including atazanavir (Reyataz, in Evotaz), darunavir (Prezista, in Prezcobix), didanosine (Videx), and lopinavir/ritonavir (in Kaletra); and other HIV medications containing tenofovir (Atripla, Complera, Descovy, Genvoya, Odefsey, Stribild, Truvada, Vemlidy). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had the conditions mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, HIV, bone problems including osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily) or bone fractures, or liver or kidney disease.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking tenofovir, call your doctor. You should not breastfeed if you are infected with HIV or if you are taking tenofovir.
• You should know that while you are taking medications to treat HIV infection, your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight other infections that were already in your body. This may cause you to develop symptoms of those infections. If you have new or worsening symptoms during your treatment with tenofovir, be sure to tell your doctor.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Tenofovir may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Depression
• Rash
• Itching
• Fever
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• Gas
• Weight loss

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING or SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS sections, call your doctor immediately.

• Decreased urination
• Ongoing or worsening bone pain
• Pain in the arms, hands, feet, or legs
• Pain in upper right part of your stomach,
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Extreme tiredness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Trouble breathing
• Dark yellow or brown urine
• Light-colored bowel movements
• Yellowing of skin or eyes
• Feeling cold, especially in the arms or legs
• Muscle pain

Tenofovir may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Keep a supply of tenofovir on hand. Do not wait until you run out of medication to refill your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.